ABSTRACT
Since 1966, approximately 1 000 veterinarians graduate each year from 16 veterinary schools in Japan. According to reports submitted by veterinarians to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in January 2007, there were over 35 818 veterinarians in Japan at the end of 2006. Of this total, 13 202 (36.8%) were engaged in companion animal practice, 9 112 (25.4%) were civil servants and 4 180 (11.7%) were engaged in food animal practice. The total number of veterinarians has increased gradually over the past 40 years. Recently, the number of veterinarians engaged in companion animal practice has increased while the number of veterinarians engaged in food animal practice is declining. These trends reflect the change in demand for veterinarians in food and companion animal practice, resulting mainly from changes in the number of food animals and companion animals in recent years. The number of veterinarians in the public sector has decreased gradually due to the administrative reforms of recent years.
ABSTRACT
The Animal Products Safety Division (APSD) of Japan was created in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in October 2005 to strengthen the role of the Ministry in animal production food safety. The authors outline the background to the establishment of the APSD and its functions. The APSD is engaged in administration related to risk management during the production stage of terrestrial and aquatic animal products. The APSD endeavours to ensure that risk management measures are taken in accordance with the relevant laws, regulations and administrative notifications and that they are based on risk assessment and science. The APSD works in close collaboration with other national agencies, prefecture governments, foreign governments and international organisations.
